Cheaper alternative to using real estate agents (finding tenants)

[Cynthia B.]

Hi all,

I'm hoping some of you here have experience with real estate agents alternatives that are more affordable?
My current real estate agent will charge almost a full months rent for finding tenants. If the house is empty for a month as well that adds up really fast.

So any suggestions ?  I know there's sites like avail.com, but I'm not so sure about that as it's 100% online.

I have zero experience at this point with any of this. Thanks for any suggestions.

:)

[Dennis M.]

Why on earth are you using an agent for this . Is he going to pay for the eviction if he gets an idiot in there ? How bout lost back rent ? I’d be using Facebook marketing if it was me . You can weed through them by looking at the profiles . It is like a magical landlord tool you must be using in 2019

[Charles D Cruz]

Facebook 

[Dennis M.]

Why on earth are you using an agent for this . Is he going to pay for the eviction if he gets an idiot in there ? How bout lost back rent ? I’d be using Facebook marketing if it was me . You can weed through them by looking at the profiles . It is like a magical landlord tool you must be using in 2019

[Bjorn Ahlblad]

@Cynthia B. if you have zero experience you really need a PM.

[Bob Prisco]

@Cynthia B. why are you using an RE ? Use a PM co, tenants are the easy part, I suggest going with Govt Tenants, your phone will ring off the hook

Good Luck 

[Brandi K.]

Using TurboTenant is great and free for landlords.  

[Cynthia B.]

Bob, what do you mean with government tenants?  PM is project manager I assume? Are they cheaper ? That's my main concern. Thanks for the answers btw :) 

[Spencer Cornelia]

@Cynthia B. I use Facebook Marketplace and Craigslist.  You can also check out Roomster even if you aren't technically looking for a roommate.  I prefer Facebook Marketplace because I get a lot of interest the second I post a room available.  And also because I can scan through their Facebook profile and get a good idea of who they are in a few minutes.

I only look for roommates so my experience may be slightly different than yours as it sounds like you're looking for tenants at a property you won't be living in.  But I still think Facebook Marketplace is where you should be posting your available unit.

[Cynthia B.]

I'm not on facebook , but will keep it in mind. I was hoping for some alternatives. Turbotenant sounds like avail ,I have no experience using these , I'm a bit skeptical about them.

I will try a PM for now probably. Thanks

[Rob B.]

Hi Cynthia, I will say it is great that you're going through the process of thinking through leads and I don't want to knock Craigslist or Facebook for posting your listing because a lot of landlords have luck finding tenants there. In fact, my sister found her last rental via facebook and it has worked out tremendously; however, I will say, it could be worth considering a still listing via a landlord software tool (1 - 15 units) that helps you to automate your own rental process and can help to get a renter in there fast (ie. compared to other tools, one that helps you to actually build a single listing and syndicates it to 10+ major listing sites, allows you to schedule showings, provides you with super thorough tenant screening options, online digital leases which can be customized and help you by breaking out those fees, automated maintenance tracking, and fast rent collection which also offers your tenants the ability to report their positive on-time payments to the major credit bureaus; just another positive reinforcement/added incentive to get them to make those payments on time). I'm hoping it will rent soon and I think you have the right idea thus far; it is still early enough in the fall so don't lose hope/steam just yet! @Cynthia B.

[Cynthia B.]

Hi Rob, I will definitely want to try Avail, I just worry that it won't go as smooth or as fast as through a real estate agent?  What if it takes too long to rent out , what would be my options then (using Avail ) ?   Still, I really want to avoid those high real estate agent fees!